In the early 1980s, news of LaBerge's research using the technique of signalling to a collaborator monitoring his EEG with agreed-upon eye movements during REM, helped to popularise lucid dreaming in the American media. The first scientifically verified signal from a dreamer's mind to the outside world came several years earlier in 1975, from a study conducted by Keith Hearne at Hull University, England;[4] however, media confusion over which scientist first published their results[5][6] has caused the widespread but incorrect[original research?] belief that LaBerge was the first to conduct this research.[7]

LaBerge developed a series of devices to help users enter a lucid state while dreaming. The original device was called a DreamLight, which was discontinued in favor of the NovaDreamer, designed by experienced lucid dreamer Craig Webb for the Lucidity Institute while he worked there and participated in lucid dreaming research at Stanford. At the time of writing (2013) it is not possible to purchase any of these devices from the Lucidity Institute website. An improved version of the NovaDreamer is allegedly under development.[9]

All of the devices consist of a mask worn over the eyes with LEDs positioned over the eyelids. The LEDs flash whenever the mask detects that the wearer has entered REM sleep. The stimulus is incorporated into the wearer's dreams and can be recognised as a sign that they are dreaming.[10]

LaBerge currently lectures at universities and other professional institutions, and hosts lucid dreaming sessions at various locations.